Day 21: Joan Chittister

Lent is not an event. It is not something that happens to us. It is a microcosm of a lifelong journey to the center of the self.

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Joan Chittister, O.S.B.: A growing season
Lent is not an event. It is not something that happens to us. It is at most a microcosm of what turns out to be a lifelong journey to the center of the self.

The purpose of Lent is to confront us with ourselves in a way that’s conscious and purposeful, that enables us to deal with the rest of life well. It is not a “penitential season.” It is a growing season. It requires us to determine what is worth dying for in our own lives and what it may be necessary for us to become if we really want to live. (National Catholic Reporter, Feb. 23, 2001)

Reflection questions

1. What is worth dying for in your life? This might not be a literal death, but what sacrifices would you make for the things that are necessary to living your life well?

2. Are your Lenten practices reflective of how you live your life all year long, or is Lent a isolated season of reflection?